Enroll in Public School

Delaware public schools provide Kindergarten through Grade 12 education and include traditional districts, vocational-technical districts and charter schools. Review the topics below to learn more about enrolling in a public school.

Getting your child enrolled in a Delaware public school starts here. Explore the information, resources, and tools you need to register your student, find your school of residence, and learn about enrollment options, or review FAQs.

How to Enroll

All Delaware students have a public school assigned based on their home address, called their School of Residence. This is the first step of enrollment, whether you are planning to attend your school of residence, or apply to another school via our School Choice option.

Use the Delaware School Locator to find your school of residence.

You can register your student online! Whether you want to enroll your student in their school of residence or choice into a different school or charter, you will need to complete the standard online registration form with your district of residence.

You will need the following items to register your student in their school of residence:

Required Document Notes
Student’s Birth Certificate Required for enrollment
Proof of Residency Required for enrollment
Photo ID of Parent/Guardian Required for enrollment
Custody Documentation If applicable
Proof of Immunizations Required under Delaware Education Health and Safety Regulations
Physical Exam Must have been completed within the last two years
TB Screening Required under Delaware Education Health and Safety Regulations
Lead Test If applicable
Report Card If applicable
Transcripts If applicable
Withdrawal Sheet If applicable
Individualized Education Program (IEP) If applicable
504 Plan If applicable

I want to… What I should do…
Attend my assigned public school. Complete enrollment with my School of Residence.
Attend a different school within my district. Complete registration with my School of Residence, then submit a School Choice application.
Attend a school in a different district. Complete registration with my School of Residence, then submit a School Choice application.
Attend a charter school. Complete registration with my School of Residence, then submit a School Choice application.
Attend a vocational-technical school. Complete registration with my School of Residence, then submit a School Choice application.

Kindergarten Registration

Families should begin preparing their children to register for kindergarten the winter before kindergarten begins. In Delaware, students must be five-years-old by August 31 of the current school year to attend kindergarten. Registering your student for Kindergarten following the same steps found in Registration above.

Additional Resources

Need Assistance?

Contact your district or school of residence with any registration and enrollment questions. Don’t know your district or school of residence? Find out using our School Locator map.

Submit Feedback

We want to hear from you! Submit feedback to help with continued improvement on the enrollment experience in Delaware.

Public School Enrollment FAQs

The following FAQs are based on information from the Delaware Department of Education’s “Enroll in Public School” webpage and related enrollment resources.

Start by identifying your child’s school of residence (the school assigned based on your home address). Then complete the registration process through your district of residence.


Use Delaware’s School Locator tool to identify your assigned district and school based on your home address.

You may be asked to provide:

  • Birth certificate
  • Proof of residency
  • Parent/guardian photo ID
  • Custody or guardianship documents (if applicable)
  • Immunization and health records
  • Physical examination documentation
  • Previous school records, report cards, transcripts, IEPs, or 504 Plans (if applicable)

Check with your district for specific requirements.

Yes. All Delaware public schools offer online registration. Contact your district or school for enrollment instructions.

Families can begin the registration process as soon as they know where their child will attend school. Contact your district for specific timelines.

Children must be 5 years old on or before August 31 of the school year in which they will begin kindergarten.

Families can use Delaware’s Kindergarten Readiness resources (English/Spanish) and checklists to help children build skills and confidence before starting school.

Additional resources are also available.

The DE-ELS is administered during the first 30 days of kindergarten. It helps teachers understand each child’s strengths and identify areas where additional support may be helpful.

Yes. Through Delaware’s School Choice Program, families may apply for their child to attend a public school outside their assigned attendance area.

Yes. Students should first be registered in their school of residence before participating in the School Choice process.

No. Acceptance depends on available seats and other factors established by state law and local policies.

Yes. Families may apply to multiple schools during the School Choice application period.

Provide any available records, such as report cards, transcripts, withdrawal paperwork, IEPs, or 504 Plans to help ensure a smooth transition.

Provide any applicable court orders or guardianship documentation during enrollment so the school has accurate records.

Contact your school district directly. If you’re unsure which district serves your address, use the Delaware School Locator tool to find your assigned school and district.

The Delaware Department of Education offers information about:

If you are interested in private schools or home schools please visit the Delaware Department of Education nonpublic school website.